News
Fair Play Panel talks meaningful inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in sport

The final week of pride month saw Boola Katitjin’s Rosemary van den Berg room host the Fair Play Panel: Next Steps for Trans and Gender Diverse Inclusion in Sport.
Doctors, teachers and sporting professionals were among the panelists who sat down for a strength-based discussion about the pathway to meaningful inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in sport across all levels of competition.
More than 100 people attended the event, presented by Murdoch University’s LGBTIQA+ Advisory Group and the Murdoch Queer Collective.
EDI Projects Coordinator Em Readman hosted the panel, navigating topics from trans mental health and wellbeing to inclusion in grassroots and elite sport.
Time and time again, the Murdoch LGBTIQA+ community and our allies show up to have important conversations that are grounded in respect, research and pride,” Em said.
On the panel was Dr Sav Zwickl, a trans-non binary researcher and educator with the Austin Health Department of Medicine’s Trans Health Research Group, ECU’s Pro Vice Chancellor (Sport) and sport scientist Professor Sophia Nimphius, Lexi Goff, a transgender teacher, gender equity and disability advocate, and former president of the Western Swifts Badminton Club and Justin Barnes – LGBTIQA+ advocate, president of Team Perth and former president of the Perth Spectres Basketball Club.
Dr Zwickl spoke about research findings that showed a high percentage of trans people were hesitant to take part in sport for various reasons – including discrimination from spectators, teammates and sporting centre staff, and internal factors such as body dysphoria.
Research also highlighted that trans people found sport to be a key tool for improving overall mental health and belonging - and Dr Zwickl emphasised the importance of bridging that gap.
Professor Nimphius, an expert in elite-level sport, human performance and physiology, discussed the harmful nature of blanket bans for trans people in competitive sport – and Ms Goff brought attention to the need for sporting clubs to put in the work to be visibly safe spaces in order to recruit trans and gender diverse players.
Finally, Mr Barnes harnessed his wealth of experience in the sports industry to discuss the importance of inclusive practices and using sport as a platform for social inclusion and change.
Em said the atmosphere of the panel was “warm, welcoming and informative”.
“I am so grateful to our panelists for their time and insights,” they said.
Learn more about Murdoch University's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.News
Fair Play Panel talks meaningful inclusion for trans and gender diverse people in sport
Posted on
Topics